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Bagpipes @ Victoria Pier :(


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Aaarrgh :(

 

Ok, so I popped into Lerwick town centre this morning to see the huge cruise liner that's in and maybe get a photo or two.

 

As I walked along from the fish market I could hear the faint sound of something and thought " that can't be the bagpipes, surely?, but lo and behold yes, it was the Lerwick Pipe Band blaring away at the end of Victoria Pier.

 

It was truly awful, and I thought we were trying to offer something different to the kilts, bagpipes and tartan?.

 

Curious as to whether the ship itself had requested this I asked a LPA worker and he said no, as far as he knew it was just the Pipe Band's idea.

 

Well, what a sad day when the bagpipes are "representing" Shetland and shame on whoever's idea it was.

 

:evil: :evil:

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Aaarrgh :(

... It was truly awful,

Yes. Quite apart from the sound itself (which I personally fail to appreciate with the Scottish pipes), it does indeed make me feel uncomfortable. The puffin economy is fine and laudable, but heading towards an economy based on tartan, bagpipes and stuffed Nessie (not the teacher :wink: ) toys is highly vomitorius.

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It is unfortunately what the tourists want. As they go round the shops looking for celtic jewellery, fine malts and stuffed Nessies they get a little perplexed at the lack of tartan and scottish tatt. At least folks in the last 5years realised that the cuddley shetland pony was a good idea, had a nightmare trying to find "shetland" ponies for my daughter's classmates as presents when we used to visit, vikings & puffins were not what even scottish children associate shetland with.

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....and stuffed Nessie (not the teacher :wink: )....

 

The very thought is almost as bad the "tortured cat" rendition of most tunes on Scotch pipes. :wink:

 

Many years ago I was in the west Highlands for a couple of days, going past this loch (not sure if it was a fresh water loch, or one of their land-locked sea lochs), over the sound of the wind, slapping wavelets on the shore and the crunch of feet on shingly stuff, began hearing this unearthly sound coming and going on the wind. Stopped and listened, and came to figure out that somewhere around the shore of this loch, (it was about a mile or so any other shore, someone was playing the bagpipes.

 

Across the water, and in such a wide open barren place, the sound was surreal and about as alien as it got. Your only reaction was to get away from it, so maybe the assertion they were designed as one of the early forms of WMD holds some truth. :wink:

 

Definitely not a sound that is at home anyplace in Shetland. I've always been rather preplexed at the apparent contradiction in terms of the Pipe Band being part of UHA.

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When it comes to sign language it is amusing to note that this is the way to say Scotland or Scottish (I presume the left handedness is not intentional):

 

http://www.erik-moncrieff.com/misc/SignLanguageScotland.gif

 

Source

 

The Yanks as usual choose to be different, but as their sign is supposed to depict tartan, it is in the same zone. I wonder if anyone has a sign for Shetland, at least one not involving sheep. Any proposals?

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Definitely not a sound that is at home anyplace in Shetland. I've always been rather preplexed at the apparent contradiction in terms of the Pipe Band being part of UHA.

 

I completely agree, with no disrespect to the pipe band intended. I would love to hear the sound of perhaps a couple of hundred fiddles ringing through the toon instead. Of course it wouldn't be to everyone's tastes either but more traditional, just as loud if not louder, and unique.

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Jesus what a bunch of whingers! You moan because nobody makes an effort for cruise ships, then the pipe band does something about it and they get shot down in flames for trying.

 

We are part of Scotland and as such our national instrument is the bagpipes. Just because you dont like the bagpipes, it doesnt mean the tourists dont enjoy it! In fact it must be a complete novelty for most of them to hear pipes and drums.

 

Give the pipe band some credit for trying to entertain the tourists - I dont see any fiddle groups out there having a tune - theres nothing stopping them!!

 

I think the pipe band should be invited to play for all the big cruise liners. I love the pipes and many many more people do too.

 

Hope the pipe band keeps up the good work.

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Guest moorityow

If Shetland people are so against tartan and bagpipes can you tell why most shetlanders are getting married in Kilts!!

 

The Lerwick Pipe Band are making a real effort and there were quite alot of shetlanders on the pier today loving the music.

 

Im quite sure none of you have any idea of what real music is so stop moaning and stay at home next time!!!

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I thought we were trying to offer something different to the kilts, bagpipes and tartan?.

 

So what were you offering?

 

 

Just as a by the way...from someone who was there...I understand the tourists off the ship were delighted with the presence of the Pipe Band - loads of smiles and photographs.

 

Really shows off Shetland's cultural diversity, in my opinion, good on them.

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I think it's great that the pipeband was playing on the pier.

It's what the tourists want to see, and most other liners have a couple of fiddlers meeting them.

I also love the pipeband playing at UHA, although it isn't great to try and sing when they are beside you in the procession :wink:

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